It's time for that extra sprinkle of sunshine as guests dress to impress for the Sunshine Fund’s eagerly-awaited Sunflower Ball.

An annual highlight, the ball always brings a touch of glamour to The Chronicle charity’s fund-raising year and, while the message is always about raising funds to support local disabled children, the evening is one of fun and celebration.

The ball, being hosted at the Newcastle Marriott Hotel Gosforth Park, will be packed with Broadway show-style entertainment and chances to win some fabulous prizes, including a £1,000 gift card from sponsor intu.

And this time around there’s an extra touch of razzle-dazzle with a starry prize of flights to New York up for grabs in A Night on Broadway-theme auction.

United Airlines has donated a pair of tickets for the Newcastle to New York route for when its seasonal service resumes.

Other luxury treats for auction include hotel stays, meals and Metro Radio Arena tickets plus a seven-night holiday for four in Dubrovnik; a training day with Newcastle United player Paul Dummett including a signed pair of boots and a Newcastle United top; and tickets, first class rail travel and a hotel stay in London to see And and Dec’s live show Saturday Night Takeaway.

Also set to be popular will be private box and meal at Newcastle United; a golf experience at Close House and a gold disc signed by Robbie Williams.

Excitement has been building for weeks for the Sunflower Ball and now tonight’s the night, with a full list of guests, including representatives from local businesses, set to enjoy what’s on offer. It’s thanks to help from sponsors that the Sunshine Fund can enjoy the level of success it has in making life easier for disabled children in the region.

Helen Atkinson, marketing manager of the ball’s sponsor intu Metrocentre, said the company is delighted to play a role in “a fantastic cause” and that the team thoroughly enjoys the event.

She said she is especially looking forward to the show tunes and musical performances.

“A huge well done to the team for all of their hard work putting on such a great night,” she added.

And Clare Savory, the charity’s head of fund-raising, said her own thank-you to the sponsor and to everyone who snapped up tickets for the Sunflower Ball.

She said: “We raised an amazing £25,000. All the money raised from the evening will be supporting 150 children right here in the North East with specialised equipment.”